Appoint Dick Advocaat now, says Sunderland legend Niall Quinn

Richard Mennear

SUNDERLAND legend Niall Quinn has called on the club to keep manager Dick Advocaat.

Quinn, a former player, manager and chairman at Sunderland, says the goalless draw at Arsenal - a result which sealed their top flight status - shows why they must do everything in their power to keep the Dutchman.

The former striker wants the 67-year-old Dutchman to stay the Stadium of Light.

“I think he’s perfect,” said Quinn on Sky Sports.

“Sunderland needs a figure like him who commands respect and can get things out of people.

“If I was a Sunderland fan watching that I’d take a deep breath and be proud of supporting my club tonight because that man has nailed it.

“He’s got the club, the players and the fans reunited after a difficult couple of years and the future looks great... if he stays.”

Quinn said: “This man has got the first-team organised.

“He hasn’t worried about anything else.

“He’s worked with them on the training ground and he’s guided them over the line his way. It’s been a pleasure to watch because it looked lost before he came in.

“He’s kept it all to himself, said very little in his interviews, he’s took all the strain and he’s taken the sting out of it for the players. The pressure that was on the players, he removed it. It’s a remarkable effort from a great man.

“Things looked very bad six weeks ago. Dick Advocaat came in to a demoralised dressing room and a demoralised stadium. He’s come in and organised them.

“It’s been Tony Pulis-like, in that he stopped them knocking the ball around for the sake of it and got them going more direct,” added the Sky Sports pundit.